Senior Accountant

Michael Page; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy in the UAE is seeking a Senior Accountant to manage core accounting functions, supporting project teams and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have 7-10 years of experience in accounting in the construction industry, possess strong communication skills, and be willing to work 6 days a week.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of experience in accounting within construction or contracting.
• Strong knowledge of project accounting and cost controlling.
• Willingness to work 6 days a week on alternate weeks.

Responsibilities

• Manage general ledger and month-end closing activities.
• Prepare MIS reports for decision-making.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting for projects.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Project accounting

Cost controlling

MIS reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting / Finance

ACCA / CPA / CA or equivalent

Job description

The Role

Our client, a well-established contracting group in the UAE, is looking to appoint a Senior Accountant. This role requires a detail-oriented professional who can manage core accounting functions while partnering closely with contractors, quantity surveyors, and project teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end closing activities
• Prepare MIS reports and management presentations to support decision-making
• Ensure compliance with VAT, IFRS, and internal policies
• Develop and monitor budgets for projects and divisions
• Lead forecasting and variance analysis to track project profitability
• Manage cash flow reporting and projections to support operations
• Partner with contractors and quantity surveyors to track project costs
• Oversee project accounting, ensuring accurate allocation of costs and revenues
• Implement cost control measures to optimize financial efficiency
• Support project managers with financial insights and controls
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and internal audit requirements
• Support annual audits and prepare audit schedules
• Maintain up-to-date documentation for financial controls
• Manage and mentor a small team of junior accountants
• Provide guidance and oversight to ensure accuracy and compliance

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting / Finance
• ACCA / CPA / CA or equivalent professional qualification preferred
• 7-10 years of experience in accounting within construction, contracting, or similar industries (mandatory)
• Strong knowledge of project accounting, cost controlling, and MIS reporting
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Must be based in UAE - no relocation support will be provided
• Willingness to work 6 days a week on alternate weeks (two Saturdays per month)

About the company

Michael Page is one of the world's leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world. The Group has operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. In the Middle East we focus on the areas of : Finance & Accounting Banking & Financial Services Procurement Property & Construction Engineering & Supply Chain Oil & Gas Technical and Engineering Human Resources Sales Marketing Technology Secretarial Executive Search Legal The Group operates through 161 offices in 33 countries and employs over 5,000 employees worldwide.